Baa Atoll · May–November
Hanifaru's manta season.
Plankton-rich currents can gather reef mantas inside this protected bay. The encounter is managed, seasonal and snorkel-only.
Reef manta rayGuided snorkel
Explore Hanifaru Bay
The living Indian Ocean
Maldives marine life.
43 curated wildlife profiles connect sharks, rays, turtles, reef fish, dolphins, macro life and seabirds with the places and seasons that shape a responsible encounter.
- Field-guide profiles
- 43
- Indexable dive sites
- 84
- Atolls represented
- 20
Three ways into the wild
Start with a place, not a checklist.
Wildlife is never guaranteed. These journeys align habitat, season and a locally guided encounter so the animal remains in control.
South Ari Atoll · Year-round
The whale-shark corridor.
A protected stretch of outer reef offers a year-round chance to meet whale sharks, usually from the surface with a trained guide.
Whale sharkBoat + snorkel
Open the whale-shark guide
Fuvahmulah · Year-round
Tiger sharks in the deep south.
Resident tiger sharks make this one of the Maldives' defining big-animal dives: a scuba encounter led by specialists after a full briefing.
Tiger sharkGuided scuba
Explore Tiger HarbourThe field guide
Find your wild encounter.
Search by name, then narrow the guide by animal family or the way you want to meet it.
43 of 43 encounters
Signature encounter
Shark · Maldives
Whale shark.
Rhincodon typus
- Best window
- Year-round in South Ari
- Encounter
- Snorkel
IUCN · Endangered
Shark
Blacktip reef shark.
Carcharhinus melanopterus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Snorkel / shallow water
IUCN · Vulnerable
Ray
Blotched fantail ray.
Taeniurops meyeni
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Vulnerable
Reef fish
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse.
Labroides dimidiatus
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive.
IUCN · Least Concern (IUCN).
Reef fish
Bluestripe snapper.
Lutjanus kasmira
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Least Concern
Marine mammal
Bottlenose dolphin.
Tursiops truncatus / aduncus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Boat-based watching
IUCN · Least Concern (aduncus Near Threatened)
Coral & reef life
Boulder & massive coral.
Porites spp.
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive.
IUCN · Most massive Porites are Least Concern (IUCN).
Reef fish
Bumphead parrotfish.
Bolbometopon muricatum
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Mostly dive.
IUCN · Vulnerable (IUCN, assessed 2012).
Reef invertebrate
Cleaner shrimp.
Lysmata amboinensis
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive; look into ledges and caves.
IUCN · Not assessed by the IUCN Red List.
Reef invertebrate
Crown-of-thorns starfish.
Acanthaster planci
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive — never touch; the spines sting.
IUCN · Not assessed by the IUCN Red List.
Reef fish
Dogtooth tuna.
Gymnosarda unicolor
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Least Concern
Coral & reef life
Fire coral.
Millepora spp.
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive — look, don't touch.
IUCN · Least Concern for most Indo-Pacific species (IUCN).
Macro life
Frogfish.
Antennariidae
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive (macro)
IUCN · Not assessed
Reef invertebrate
Giant clam.
Tridacna maxima
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive, shallow.
IUCN · Least Concern (IUCN, 1996); listed on CITES Appendix II.
Ray
Giant oceanic manta ray.
Mobula birostris
- Best window
- Variable / opportunistic
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Endangered
Reef fish
Giant trevally.
Caranx ignobilis
- Best window
- Year-round; surface action best NE Nov–Apr
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Least Concern
Reef fish
Great barracuda.
Sphyraena barracuda
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Least Concern
Seabird
Great frigatebird.
Fregata minor
- Best window
- Year-round; roosts at Olhugiri
- Encounter
- Surface / birdwatching
IUCN · Least Concern
Turtle
Green turtle.
Chelonia mydas
- Best window
- Year-round; nesting Jun–Sep
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Vulnerable (Indian Ocean subpopulation)
Shark
Grey reef shark.
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
- Best window
- Year-round; best on incoming current
- Encounter
- Dive (advanced in channels)
IUCN · Endangered — assessed July 2020
Turtle
Hawksbill turtle.
Eretmochelys imbricata
- Best window
- Year-round; nesting peaks Jun–Sep
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Critically Endangered
Macro life
Leaf scorpionfish.
Taenianotus triacanthus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive (macro)
IUCN · Not assessed
Coral & reef life
Magnificent sea anemone.
Heteractis magnifica
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive, usually shallow.
IUCN · Not assessed by the IUCN Red List.
Reef fish
Moorish idol.
Zanclus cornutus
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive.
IUCN · Least Concern (IUCN).
Reef fish
Napoleon (humphead) wrasse.
Cheilinus undulatus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Endangered (CITES II)
Macro life
Nudibranchs.
Various
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive (macro)
IUCN · Not assessed
Shark
Oceanic whitetip shark.
Carcharhinus longimanus
- Best window
- Opportunistic
- Encounter
- Dive only — advanced
IUCN · Critically Endangered
Reef fish
Oriental sweetlips.
Plectorhinchus vittatus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Least Concern
Reef invertebrate
Painted spiny lobster.
Panulirus versicolor
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Mostly dive, especially at night.
IUCN · Least Concern (IUCN, assessed 2011).
Shark
Pelagic thresher.
Alopias pelagicus
- Best window
- Year-round at Fuvahmulah; best Jan–Apr
- Encounter
- Dive only — advanced (deep)
IUCN · Endangered
Reef fish
Powder-blue surgeonfish.
Acanthurus leucosternon
- Best window
- Year-round.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive, shallow.
IUCN · Least Concern (IUCN, assessed 2010).
Ray
Reef manta ray.
Mobula alfredi
- Best window
- SW monsoon May–Nov; Hanifaru peak Jul–Sep
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Vulnerable
Shark
Scalloped hammerhead.
Sphyrna lewini
- Best window
- Rasdhoo peak Dec–Mar; Fuvahmulah more year-round
- Encounter
- Dive only — advanced (deep, dawn)
IUCN · Critically Endangered
Coral & reef life
Sea fan (gorgonian).
Order Alcyonacea (gorgonians)
- Best window
- Year-round; incoming current makes the fans feed and stand tall.
- Encounter
- Mostly dive, on channel and thila walls.
IUCN · Not individually assessed by the IUCN Red List.
Shark
Silky shark.
Carcharhinus falciformis
- Best window
- Opportunistic
- Encounter
- Dive — advanced (blue water)
IUCN · Vulnerable
Shark
Silvertip shark.
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
- Best window
- Year-round (current-dependent)
- Encounter
- Dive — advanced
IUCN · Vulnerable
Ray
Spinetail devil ray.
Mobula mobular
- Best window
- Plankton season (with mantas)
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Endangered
Marine mammal
Spinner dolphin.
Stenella longirostris
- Best window
- Year-round; afternoon trips best
- Encounter
- Boat-based watching
IUCN · Least Concern
Ray
Spotted eagle ray.
Aetobatus ocellatus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Snorkel + dive
IUCN · Endangered
Coral & reef life
Table & staghorn coral.
Acropora spp.
- Best window
- Year-round; calm, clear conditions give the best coral viewing.
- Encounter
- Snorkel and dive, mostly shallow.
IUCN · Varies by species; many branching Acropora are Vulnerable (IUCN).
Shark
Tawny nurse shark.
Nebrius ferrugineus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive
IUCN · Vulnerable
Shark
Tiger shark.
Galeocerdo cuvier
- Best window
- Year-round at Fuvahmulah
- Encounter
- Dive only
IUCN · Near Threatened
Shark
Whitetip reef shark.
Triaenodon obesus
- Best window
- Year-round
- Encounter
- Dive (some shallow snorkel)
IUCN · Vulnerable
Photography & licences43 credited images
Catalogue and journey photography comes from credited Creative Commons or public-domain sources. Open a source or licence below to inspect its terms.
Blacktip reef shark
PhotoCharles J. SharpCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Blotched fantail ray
PhotoNOAA (uncredited)Public domainweb-adapted
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
Bluestripe snapper
PhotoDiego DelsoCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Bottlenose dolphin
PhotoCalistemonCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Boulder & massive coral
Bumphead parrotfish
Cleaner shrimp
Crown-of-thorns starfish
Dogtooth tuna
PhotoDiego DelsoCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Fire coral
Frogfish
PhotoRickard ZerpeCC BY-SA 2.0web-adapted
Giant clam
Giant oceanic manta ray
PhotoElias LevyCC BY 2.0web-adapted
Giant trevally
PhotoMDC SeaMarc MaldivesCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Great barracuda
PhotoKora27CC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Great frigatebird
PhotoCharles J. SharpCC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Green turtle
PhotoDominik KellerCC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Grey reef shark
PhotoNOAA Fisheries/Dani EscontrelaPublic domainweb-adapted
Hawksbill turtle
PhotoMDC SeaMarc MaldivesCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Leaf scorpionfish
PhotoDiego DelsoCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Magnificent sea anemone
Moorish idol
Napoleon (humphead) wrasse
PhotoMDC Seamarc MaldivesCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Nudibranchs
PhotoNhobgood Nick HobgoodCC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Oceanic whitetip shark
PhotoThe original uploader was OldakQuill at English Wikipedia.CC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Oriental sweetlips
PhotoJean-Paul BoerekampsCC0web-adapted
Painted spiny lobster
Pelagic thresher
PhotoPetter LindgrenCC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Powder-blue surgeonfish
PhotoH. ZellCC BY-SA 3.0
Reef manta ray
PhotoPeter GeymayerPublic domainweb-adapted
Scalloped hammerhead
PhotoDiego DelsoCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Sea fan (gorgonian)
Silky shark
PhotoAlex ChernikhCC BY 2.5web-adapted
Silvertip shark
PhotoAlbert kokCC BY-SA 3.0web-adapted
Spinetail devil ray
PhotoJulien RenoultCC BY 4.0web-adapted
Spinner dolphin
PhotoGiles LaurentCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Spotted eagle ray
PhotoAhmed Abdul RahmanCC BY-SA 4.0web-adapted
Table & staghorn coral
PhotoNational Marine SanctuariesPublic domain
Tawny nurse shark
PhotoJean-Paul BoerekampsCC0web-adapted
Tiger shark
PhotoKris Mikael KristerCC BY 3.0web-adapted
Whale shark
PhotoTchamiCC BY-SA 2.0web-adapted
Whitetip reef shark
PhotoKris Mikael KristerCC BY 3.0web-adapted
Ocean etiquette
Meet the ocean on its terms.
A good encounter leaves the animal’s path unchanged. Conditions, protected-area rules and guide instructions always take priority over a photograph or sighting.
Read the Maldives diving guide- 01
Give wildlife room
Follow the guide's animal-specific distance and positioning brief. Never block an animal's direction of travel.
- 02
Leave no physical trace
Do not touch, chase or feed marine life. Keep fins, hands and equipment clear of coral and the seabed.
- 03
Choose the right operator
Use licensed guides, respect protected-area limits and avoid anyone who promises a guaranteed wildlife performance.
Build the journey around the animal
Tell us what you hope to see.
Share your dates, swimming confidence and priority encounters. We will match the season, atoll, resort and experienced local operator without treating a wild sighting as something that can be ordered.